WORKERS ARRESTED FOR BISHOPSTOWE FARM MURDERS
Son makes gruesome discovery of murdered parents and grandfather
Round the clock investigations resulted in police yesterday arresting two workers in connection with Monday’s gruesome panga murders of three people at a farm in Bishopstowe.
Farm manager Daniel De Bruin (58), his wife Glynis De Bruin (60) and her father, 86-year-old Colin Schwegman, were attacked and hacked to death on Monday. Police who attended the scene said it was one of the most gruesome murders they have witnessed. The attackers also set the farm’s sugar cane crop alight before fleeing the scene with an undisclosed amount of money and other items.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said that De Bruin’s son received a call from neighbouring farmers saying that his father’s farm was on fire. He rushed to the property and found the bloodied bodies of his parents and his grandfather.
Detectives yesterday morning managed to piece together evidence that pointed in the direction of two farm workers who had been embroiled in a wage dispute with De Bruin. Several of the farm workers told police about the on-going dispute. Both suspects did not report for work yesterday.
Police then interviewed the brother of one of the suspects who provided detectives with his brother’s home address in Swapo settlement, near Copesville.
“When police arrived at the first suspect’s house in Swapo B, he was found bleeding with injuries from the scene. There were plenty of airtime vouchers, coins, bloodied clothing and shoes — items stolen from the farm’s tuckshop and from the farmhouse,” said one of the police officers involved in the matter.
Police recovered a panga, believed to have been used in the murder, from the suspect’s home. Further investigations led police officers to the second suspect’s home.
A standoff ensued as the suspect refused to hand himself over. Police forced their way into the property and arrested the man who was in possession of the other murder weapon used in the panga attack. Police found blood soaked clothing in the man’s house.
Both suspects, aged 27 and 35 years old, were taken to Bishopstowe Police Station.
“The two suspects that were arrested worked at the farm. We understand there was an issue about wages for the last two weeks. It is unclear what the issue was about but matters boiled over on Monday which would have been payday at the farm.
“Initial investigations indicate that the two suspects, employees of the enterprise, went to the farm tuckshop on the pretext of purchasing items. There the suspects attacked and killed farm manager Daniel De Bruin (58). The suspects then proceeded to the farm house where they attacked and murdered Glynis De Bruin (60) and her father 86-year-old Colin Schwegman.
Police investigations continue and the suspects are due to appear in court on Thursday.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula appauded the swift arrests.
“Justice will prevail and we hope the family will find solace knowing that the perpetrators are behind bars,” said Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula.
Bishopstowe SAPS detectives, the police K-9 unit and SAPS crime intelligence units were involved in responding to the attack and in follow up investigations. Assist Me Now responders and PAC Synergy also provided additional support.